Smoking is So Yesterday

The BLURB says: "Smoking is so yesterday." The Great American Smoke Out can help you make it so.

Did You Ever Notice . . .

Did you ever notice how clean and well-maintained this campus is? Not that a campus should be a pig sty, but UW--Manitowoc is downright spiffy. And what's more, the people who keep it spit-polished to a nifty shine are really pleasant people. Oh sure, they may get a little nervous each year when Student Senate decides to have a Pumpkin Carving Contest--that's a lot of pumpkin guts to deal with--but all in all they actually seem to like the students and staff. So not only do they do a great job, but they are willing to go the extra distance to make the place look good.

Maybe that accounts in part for the low incidence of grafitti, littering, or general slobbitude by students and staff. Good going to the custodial crew and to you and you and you and you and you and . . .

Study Tip No. 1--Bite off a little bit

Who says this BLURB thing is worthless? Here, for example, is a priceless study tip for you. And it's free for the taking.

Spend less time and energy worrying about and hoping about and complaining about something you have to do or learn, and more time actually trying to do it or learn it. Sometimes it helps to take a little time to complete just one little step in the process. Write the first sentence. Do the first math problem. Study and memorize one key term or concept. Read the first three pages. Just crossing the boundary between avoiding it and doing it, can make a big difference. Then when you come back to the task with the necessary time, you've already started.

Go ahead. Give it a try.

Love the Local Flavors

This week Wednesday night is the Kick-off of the "Locavore Challenge." Check out the "Blue Devils Go Green" Blog on the campus homepage for all the particulars.

Of course, some of us think we have a great chance at winning the challenge simply based on the fact that we eat a lot more than other people, and therefore will also likely eat more local food than skinny little picky eaters.
Hmmm . . . there may be something wrong with this logic.

But, contest or not, eating locally grown or made food has its own rewards. Compare the taste of your granny's homemade pickles to any kind you can get at the store, or the taste of fresh apple juice or cider from the farmer's market to commercially made stuff, or the taste of a plump juicy tomato you pick off the vine to the kind that arrives hard as an eight ball in a carton from God-knows-where. They're not even the same species! So whatever other good things come from eating locally, one thing you can bank on is that the local, homemade, fresh stuff will reward you with tasting great.

Get Ready. Get Set. Vote!

Every four years college students are on the receiving end of a big push--to get out and vote. Duh!

And in Wisconsin, they make it pretty easy. This week there's even someone on campus from the League of Women Voters who will register you on the spot so that you're good to go and vote on November 4th.

But the BLURB goes it one better: be an informed voter. If you've been checking out the national news/opinion forums--CNN, FOX, MSNBC, PBS, CBS, ABC, NBC, etc.--and any of the bazillion shows covering the Presidential Election, you know that the slant, and even the story itself, that you get depends so much on the channel you happen to be watching. So what's a body to do? Easy. Watch a couple of different channels and watch the upcoming debates. Then, equipped with at least that much information, cast your vote. 'Cause, you name the issue, a lot is riding on this election.

Is anyone out there?

Most BLOGS have a response feature built in, but for some reason this BLURB doesn't. But if you want to respond--compliment, complain, suggest, or just comment--to any of the posts on The Blurb you can do so to theblurb@uwc.edu. The Blurber is waiting to hear from you!

campus life nights

For the last ten years, UW-Manitowoc's Student Senate has been pulling off this cool series of events or programs that they call Campus Life Nights (or maybe it's Campus Night Life's). Usually they start at 9:00 on Wednesday nights because by that time most students are done with class and work for the day, and it sort of marks making it over the hump of the week. It's a time to kick back with some sort of friendly gathering or maybe a cut-throat competition like Battle of the Sexes or a dessert-making contest. (That one can get especially messy.) There's almost always something to eat or drink, and there is often a cheesy prize or two involved.

This week they're sponsoring one of dubious pleasure for some of us and of great adventure and excitement for others--Capture the Flag in the Park in the Dark. To date they've only had one sprained ankle and one lost person, and the ankle healed and the lost one was found. The losing team has to serve pizza and soda to the winners. Serious competitors come in ninja or night gear, but the only real advice on what to wear is something you don't mind getting dirty and serious footwear--NO Flip-flops! Save them for "jammies and a chick-flick" night.